Top ’Topper: Hill capped career with record performance

SOMERSWORTH — Although Rachel Hill scored a record-setting goal in her final regular-season game, her biggest goal came before the 2012 campaign ever started.

“I wanted to try and have more assists this year than I did any other year,” said the Somersworth High School senior.

It was an unselfish objective for a player on the verge of becoming the state’s most prolific scorer in girls soccer. Hill finished her career with 151 goals, including 32 this season to go along with 10 assists.

“I think the girls did work really hard to get open and they knew that if somebody was on me I needed to play the ball quicker than I usually do,” she said. “They were aware of it and they did really help me out a lot.”

Hill also set a career mark for goals by a girl in New Hampshire in an 8-0 win over Kingswood on senior day, making the forward an easy choice for Foster’s girls soccer player of the year.

Hill was honored for the third straight year.

“As good a player as Rachel is, she is an even better teammate,” said Somersworth coach Nick O’Brien. “She consistently worked to set up her teammates and was a leader on and off the field. Her work rate is second to none, whether in practice or in a game.”

Hill scored the record-tying goal 63 seconds into the match against Kingswood and broke it in the fifth minute with her 148th career goal.

“We’d beaten them before by a lot,” Hill said, “but you never know in soccer. Going into the game I knew I was only one away from tying it so I knew it was possible. I knew it was there.”

She figured in the first three goals of the game with two goals and an assist and ended up with a hat trick. Alyssa Dalesio set up Hill’s first goal and Emily Francoeur assisted on the record-breaker. Souhegan’s Courtney Banghart held the previous mark of 147.

The fact that senior teammates Nicole Hinchey, Morgan Cormier and Erika Ducharme notched their first career goals only enhanced the experience.

“Throughout the year every now and then I would think about (the record) a little bit and I’d want to reach it,” Hill said, “but personally I didn’t focus on it a ton. The first thought in my head during a game is wanting to win. I know in order to win that takes the best team.”

The Hilltoppers won enough to reach the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs in each of the last four seasons, although Hill’s biggest disappointment is that they didn’t get any further.

“It didn’t end how we wished,” she said, “but I think throughout the whole season from beginning to end we really improved a lot this year.”

A model of consistency, she averaged more than 35 goals per year throughout her career and scored at least 30 in each of her four varsity seasons.

Despite the magnitude of the record-breaking accomplishment, Hill was more focused on team goals going into the 2012 season.

“I wanted us to play more consistently and know going into a game how we’re expected to play and play up to those expectations,” she said. “This year as a team I just wanted everybody to always work hard in practice so that we knew going into games we were ready.”

Hill is getting ready to take her game to the next level. She’s headed to the University of Connecticut on scholarship where she expects the play to be faster and more physical.

“There will be bigger girls than I am and stronger,” she said, “and girls will be just as fast as I am so I can’t rely on that as much. It will be a big change, that’s for sure.”

Hills college career is already off to a good start. Her customary No. 3 was available. Hill’s skill set includes speed and her soccer IQ.

“I’ve been around the game so much and my dad (Mike Hill) knows the game so well that I’m a pretty smart player,” she said. “I know positioning, where to be and when to make a run.”

Hill is dangerous with either foot. She can create her own scoring opportunities and finish with either power or precision.

“Rachel is technically sound,” O’Brien said, “and she has an incredible sense for what happens on the field.”

Hill made first team all-state in D-III all four years and was named all-New England as a junior and senior

“It was a good year to end my high school career,” said Hill, who also runs track and plays basketball for Somersworth. “The season for me was to have a lot of fun and enjoy it and take everything out of it that I can.”

“Rachel plays the game the way it should always be played,” O’Brien said. “She plays with passion, intensity, intelligence, and with incredible skill.”